MARIN COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION (MCBC)
WEEKLY BULLETIN
February 5, 2009
1. They’re inside the tunnel!
2. MCBC fights for public access on RSR Bridge
3. Marin County Bike Rack Program - discounted bike racks for your business or organization
4. Be a Catalyst for change
5. MCBC streamlines its renewal process
6. Fairfax-Bolinas Road partially closed until February 27
7. Driving declines for the second year in the US
8. Goofy’s Motor Mania
9. Lance is back, and so are Levi and Landis
10. TransForm is hiring – four full- and part-time positions available
1. They’re inside the tunnel!
About 200 feet of the 1100 foot Cal Park tunnel is already completed
Membership Director Tom Boss writes:
After the MCBC New Member Meet and Greet last Thursday night a member said, “I was absolutely clueless that the work on the Cal Park tunnel had already started. I’m not sure that the average cyclist out there knows this yet.”
Take another look at the photo. After years of advocating for bicycle and pedestrian access through Marin’s old railroad tunnels, it’s actually happening!
A construction crew is working inside the Cal Park Hill tunnel replacing old wood arch sets with new steel sets. They have already completed about 200 feet of the 1,100 foot tunnel (the lift in the distance is at the point where the new construction ends).
In this [second] photo you can see the transition of old to new tunnel clearly. The sets above the excavator are the newly installed steel sets. There is a gap where a set has just been taken out, and directly in front of the gap you can see the old wood sets. At the end of the excavators arm is a jackhammer, I had an opportunity to see it in action. The operator positioned the jackhammer at the top of the wood arch and started pounding away at the center. It took just seconds for the jackhammer to break through the wood turning one arch into two pieces. A split second later both halves came crashing down to the ground.
Next, a clean-up crew came in to remove the old wood, then the new steel arch was put in place and the excavator moved back into position to begin the process again. Near the end of the day, a concrete crew came in and applied shotcrete to the 4 to 5 sets that were installed that day.
By the way, you can see the construction on the south end of the tunnel when traveling north bound on 101 at the Greenbrae-San Rafael border, just look to your right!
Construction is on schedule to be completed around December of this year.
Stay tuned: the County has promised us an official update next week, with a fact sheet you'll be able to access from our website.
2. MCBC fights for public access on RSR Bridge
On Thursday, February 5 at the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) meeting, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, San Francisco Bay Trail Project, and East Bay Bicycle Coalition presented a PowerPoint presentation and research document making the case for public access on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Public access on the bridge has been supported by BCDC, the Bay Area Toll Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Marin County Board of Supervisors, West Contra Costa County, and many other organizations and elected officials.
At this point, Caltrans is the only agency stopping public access. BCDC indicated in their staff report that they would require a permit from Caltrans if Caltrans requests a “change in use” on the bridge. A permit requirement could likely result in a condition for Caltrans to simultaneously provide public access. However, at the current time, Caltrans is not requesting a change in use to the Bridge. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition will continue to work with other partners to fight for public access on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation.
Click here to view the case for public access
3. Marin County Bike Rack Program - discounted bike racks for your business or organization
Enhance your storefront - add a bicycle rack
Has this ever happened to you? You’re running errands on your bicycle, and there’s no place to park your bicycle at any of your destinations. Or you’d like to bicycle to work, but have no safe place to leave it all day. The Bicycle Parking Program has an answer to this problem.
Safe, convenient bicycle parking can encourage people making short trips to choose a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle. This improves air quality, reduces traffic congestion, and minimizes wear and tear on roads. Additionally, cycling is a great way to get regular exercise.
Marin County has initiated a Bicycle Parking Program to provide bicycle racks and lockers at a substantial discount. Any private business, public agency, or non-profit organization located in Marin County, including the incorporated cities and towns, is eligible for the program.
For complete information, instructions, Marin County contact, and downloadable forms, click here.
Funding for this program has been made possible through the Transportation for Clean Air Program (TFCA).
MCBC thanks the County of Marin for continuing to support this important program!
4. Be a Catalyst for change
Join or renew online using MCBC’s updated recurring payment options
We know a lot of MCBC members would like to give $100 or more a year, but doing it in one payment may be hard with all the other financial obligations in you life. So we’ve updated our recurring payment feature on our website with two new member levels, Catalyst ($10 a month) and Champion ($20 a month).
cat•a•lyst : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
MCBC members are the catalyst for positive change for cyclists in Marin County and beyond. For as little as .33 cents a day ($10/month) you can help the Marin County Bicycle Coalition push for cyclists’ rights and the best bicycle network in the world!
cham•pi•on : an ardent defender or supporter of a cause
Make the planet greener with a contribution of $20 a month. Your contribution will help bring about significant improvements to Marin County’s bicycle infrastructure, helping to green the planet!
Click here to renew or upgrade using our recurring feature.
5. MCBC streamlines its renewal process
Let us know what you think.
In an effort to be greener, The Marin County Bicycle Coalition has just streamlined its renewal process. In place of the initial renewal letter we used to send out, we are mailing a reminder postcard (pictured), which encourages you to renew online. While you can return the postcard in an envelope to renew, you will save postage and an envelope (plus the carbon generated to deliver it) by renewing online at www.marinbike.org.
We’d love to get feedback from those of you who have received the new postcard. Let us know what you think! We thank Axion Design in San Anselmo for creating the series of postcards we’re putting in the mail to all of you.
6. Fairfax-Bolinas Road Partially Closed Until February 27
Only Cataract Trail Head to Ridgecrest Boulevard Affected
Fairfax-Bolinas Road will remain partially closed from the Cataract Trail Head to Ridgecrest Boulevard until February 27, due to road maintenance being performed by Marin County. Signs have been posted well in advance of the closure alerting cyclists.
MCBC thanks the County of Marin for the road closure update - we look forward to announcing the road opening along with improved road and pavement conditions in the near future!
7. Driving declines for the second year in the US
According to a report published by the Federal Highway Administration
According to the US Department of Transportation, travels on all roads and streets in the US decreased by 5.3% between November 2007 and November 2008. The findings are outlined in "Traffic Volume Trends", a monthly report published by the Federal Highway Administration. Check out this data at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/tvtpage.cfm and http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0905.htm
8. Goofy’s Motor Mania
Classic cartoon shows the Jekyll and Hyde behavior of people behind the wheel
Everyone loves the comic behavior of cartoon characters. Here’s something we found to take you back in time a bit: a Walt Disney classic from 1950 showing how usually mild-mannered individuals can change when they get behind the wheel of a car. Quite possibly the best Goofy cartoon ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZAZ_xu0DCg
MESSAGES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
9. Lance is back, and so are Levi and Landis
Tour of California field is the best ever!
Cheryl Popp of the Amgen Tour of California-Sausalito writes:
In case you didn’t hear…Lance is back, and so are Levi and Landis – the three “L’s”.
It all translates into the most prestigious, world class group of cyclists to ever race on American soil. Over 750 miles of it -- from Northern to Southern California – 9 days and 14 cities. The Amgen Tour of California is the biggest bike race in America, the largest athletic event in the state of California…and on Monday, February 16th – it will be a ride to remember as these remarkable athletes leave Sausalito and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge – the first time a bike race has ever crossed the bridge. An historic event.
Please join us in Sausalito that day for the Stage Two Start at 8:30 AM. Get up close and personal with the riders as they register in Autograph Ally – get photos and wish them well. Watch them do two parade loops through town before heading across the bridge to Santa Cruz. Stay for the Biker’s Brunch and Bike Expo…bring the kids for the decorated bike parade on Caledonia.
And if you, a favorite relative or employee, maybe a special client are cycling enthusiasts, think about the VIP Ride that same day…a limited number of amateur cyclists will get to follow the professional peloton across the Bridge. Give yourself or someone special a most memorable pedaling experience…$500 to ride the route while the world is watching. Proceeds benefit local cycling organizations.
And if you’re a Party Animal? DO NOT MISS the 4th Annual Tour de Cuisine on the eve of the race – Sunday, February 15th, 5-10 PM in the Big Bike Tent in downtown Sausalito. Over 25 restaurants and 25 wineries offering their finest fare – all you can eat and drink for $75 per person. That includes the Bubble Lounge, Dessert Row, live music and dancing to the tunes of the Sun Kings – popular Beatles cover band.
For more information on all these events click here.
10. TransForm is hiring – four full- and part-time positions available
Help improve public transit and build walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond
Marta Lindsey of TransForm writes:
TransForm, a great non-profit organization that works for world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond, has four job openings right now. We’re hiring a part-time grants manager, a full-time office manager, a part-time administrative assistant, and a full-time executive assistant.
The complete job descriptions are here.
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
P.O. Box 1115
Fairfax , CA 94978
Office Location: 733 Center Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930
(415) 456-3469 – phone
(415) 456-9344 – fax
http://www.marinbike.org
The MCBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
We are a membership-supported group. If you are not already a paying member, please join today. Printable membership forms are on our website, http://www.marinbike.org.
Thank you for being a part of the solution.
To reach the MCBC Staff:
- Kim Baenisch, Executive Director, 456-3469 x 1#, kim@marinbike.org
- Tom Boss, Membership Director, 272-2756, tom@marinbike.org
- Jo Ann Richards, Database and Activities Coordinator, 456-3469 x 7#, joann@marinbike.org
- Bob Trigg, Administrator, 456-3469 x 3#, bob@marinbike.org
- Deb Hubsmith, Advocacy Director, 454-7430, deb@marinbike.org
- David Hoffman, Director of Planning, 456-3469 x 4#, david@marinbike.org
- Andy Peri, Advocacy Outreach Coordinator, 457-0802, andy@marinbike.org
- Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director, 488-4101, wendi@marinbike.org
- Laura Kelly, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 415-456-3469 x 2#, laura@marinbike.org
- Peggy Clark, Share the Road Program Manager, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 415-456-3469 x 8#, peggy@marinbike.org
- Aviva Joseph, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Coordinator, 456-3469 x 5#, aviva@marinbike.org
- Frances E. Barbour, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 577-4601, frances@marinbike.org
- Heather Crawford, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 415-456-3469 x 6#, heather@marinbike.org
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